Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-30

founded, and he still adheres to the faith
and is called the Quaker Poet" IN
youth he was rather delicate, but the
open air life of farmers boy gave
strength, and temperance, with an even
mind, has secured length of life. He
was of a poetical turn in boyhood
and his ambition to write was
first excited by reading Burns works
The native purity of his mind was such
that nothing of the sensuous in Burns
was absorbed, but the boy Whittier was
deeply affected by the Scotch poets simple
and living portrayals OF the scenery and
moods of nature in his northern land
The boy often sighed a regret that he
could not visit such inspiring scenes
But one day this idea suddenly flashed
upon him: why have not equally good
material in the common life and poetical
scenes of our fair New Englandf" At
once he began to write on what was be.
fore his eyes, and soon proved that the
poetical environment was equal to that of
any region in the world His first pro-
duction, 'The Deity was published in
The Newburyport Free Press, when he
was but II years old Mr.. Whittier
always spoke in half apologize tone of
this poem, as mere boyish breathing of
undeveloped sentiments. After course
of two years at the local academy-he
never obtained classical education-the
poet went in 1929 to Boston and became
editor of The American Manufacturer, a
protcctionist journal. The next year he
began to edit The New England Review,
at Hartford, Conn, and while there some
of his best known poems were written.
The wrongs of the Indians excited much
of his attention about this time, and there
HI ,,xta e
emancipation. In 1856 he represented
his native township in the legislature, be
came a secretary of the American Anti
Slavery society, and later edited The
Pennsylvania Freeman in Philadelphia.
His experiences in that city gave mate
rails for his poem, pennsylvania Pill
grims."
About this time the slavery question
became paramount over all others; anti
slavery opinion became very violent in
some parts of the north, giving forth
fierce denunciations of all slave holders,
and as natural consequence the Emanci-
patton party. which had grown rapidly in
the borde' slave states, soon died out.
In Virginia, North Carolina and Tennes
see the Emancipationists had at one time
lacked but three or four votes of a ma
jorty in the legislature, and free colored
men voted in North Carolina; but in ten
years of furious agitation this was COM
pletely reversed. Mr.. Whittier grievcd
deeply, both at the violent language and
it's results. 81 differed greatly from
Friend Garrison" he says; 81 recognized
that the constitution legalized slavery,
and my efforts were directed against its
extention to the territories and in behalf
Of gradual and peaceful emancipation in
the south" Then came the annexation
of Texas and the Mexican war. and Whit
tiers appeals for peace and freedom rose
to n sublimity like that Of the Hebrew
prophets, yet always without bitterness.
''The Angels of Buena VISTA is us affect
ing description of the horrors of the
battlefield as ever appeared in any Ian
guage. Soon after came the compromise
measures of 1850, and his once much
quoted 'Ichabod" expressed his tender
sadness over the attitude of Daniel Web
ster and other New England statesmen,
"The Voices Of Freedom" and Songs of
Labor" arc products of this period, Next
came the struggle in Kansas.